“You used to call me Augustus.”

“You used," he said, and then took a sharp breath, "to call me Augustus.”

“Augustus: “You probably need some rest.”Me: “I’m okay.”Augustus: “Okay.” (Pause.) “What are you thinking about?”Me: “You.”Augustus: “What about me?”Me: “‘I do not know which to prefer, / The beauty of inflections / Or the beauty of innuendos, / The blackbird whistling / Or just after.’”Augustus: “God, you are sexy.”Me: “We could go to your room.”Augustus: “I’ve heard worse ideas.”

“and then I realized there was no one else to call, which was the saddest thing. The only person I really wanted to talk to about Augustus Water's death was Augustus Water.”

“And you can call me Bertie. Unexpected use of Beatrice makes me think I'm in trouble.”

“The emptiness where I used pain to fill the hole no longer controls me, no longer calls me because of you.”